In the hyper-curated universe of luxury hospitality, where every experience is vetted and every moment staged, the idea of “authenticity” can feel like a carefully traded commodity. We jet from one terroir to another, collecting tastes like passport stamps, often with the faint suspicion that the soul of a place gets lost in translation. So, when a chef with two Michelin stars – whose philosophy is literally rooted in the soil of a 5,000-acre Tuscan estate – packs his knives for a two-night residency in Abu Dhabi, the discerning epicurean raises an eyebrow. Is this another culinary crossover event, or something rarer: a genuine dialogue between two distinct senses of place?
Rosewood Abu Dhabi is betting on the latter. On 23 and 24 January, the hotel plays host to Chef Matteo Temperini, the culinary maestro behind Campo del Drago at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Montalcino. This is not a mere guest chef appearance; it is a thoughtful exchange with the property’s own Executive Chef, Liborio Colonna – a collaboration that speaks less of flash and more of fluency: in ingredient, technique, and the quiet art of hospitality.
The Chef, the Soil, the Star
To understand Temperini’s cuisine is to understand a particular kind of Italian rigor, polished by a formidable global apprenticeship. His native Tuscany is the heartbeat, but his technique was honed in the temples of French gastronomy: first as sous chef for Alain Ducasse at Spoon in Paris, then at the legendary three-Michelin-starred Le Louis XV in Monaco. Stints in New York, Macao, and at Florence’s famed Enoteca Pinchiorri followed, before he returned to Italy to earn his first Michelin star at Il Gallopapa in Chianti. This globe-trotting pedigree paradoxically cemented his commitment to hyper-locality. Since 2019, at the helm of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, he has transformed Campo del Drago into a destination that speaks directly of its surroundings, earning a second Michelin star in 2025 by sourcing from the estate’s organic garden and a network of local producers. His philosophy is one of “refined simplicity,” where the land is both the first and final author of every dish.
A Dialogue in Two Acts
The conversation between Temperini’s Tuscan soul and Colonna’s Abu Dhabi context unfolds across two distinct evenings, each a masterclass in tone and tempo. The overture takes place in the subterranean sanctuary of La Cava, Rosewood Abu Dhabi’s moody wine lounge, a space defined by “bold flavours and refined charm” and a formidable collection of aged vintages. On 23 January, the cellar becomes a stage for a wine-focused evening, where bottles from the Castiglion del Bosco estate are paired with a series of elegant canapés. This is not a loud tasting but a whispered seminar on terroir. Gillardeau oysters, king crab croquettes, and Coppa & foie gras toast are not just bites; they are punctuation marks in a sentence about heritage and technique.
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The crescendo arrives on 24 January at Rosewood Terrace, for a four-hands, six-course dinner. Here, the shared language of Italian heritage is parsed through a contemporary lens. The menu reads like a love letter to precision: Gambero Rosso with caviar and Sorrento lemon; Carnaroli risotto with ‘Dolce Forte’ duck; rabbit and Swiss chard agnolotti finished with black truffle. Each plate is a point of convergence between Temperini’s ingredient-led ethos and Colonna’s philosophy of “curated storytelling, precision, and emotional connection”. The optional wine pairing (AED 450) is less an accompaniment than a co-narrator.
The Subtext: Why This, Why Now?
For Abu Dhabi’s growing cohort of sophisticated, experience-driven diners – a mix of discerning millennials and Gen Z connoisseurs – such events are the new currency. It is no longer enough to simply dine at a five-star hotel; one must engage in a limited-edition narrative. This collaboration taps directly into that desire for authentic, transitory moments in a city that trades in permanence. “These shared moments are an opportunity to slow down and exchange ideas,” notes Chef Liborio Colonna. Chef Temperini echoes the sentiment, framing the residency as “translating the identity of our kitchen into a new setting”. This is the antithesis of culinary imperialism; it is a diplomatic mission.
The Verdict for the Discerning
Priced at AED 385 for the La Cava evening and AED 750 for the Rosewood Terrace dinner (with the compelling wine pairing at AED 450), the experience is an investment in palate education. In a landscape cluttered with generic “luxury,” this two-night stand offers something more valuable: intellectual nourishment. It is a chance to taste not just Tuscany, but the very idea of place – how it can travel, adapt, and converse without losing its accent.
In the end, the journey from the sun-drenched hills of Montalcino to the glittering skyline of Al Maryah Island is shorter than it seems. It is bridged not by miles, but by a shared belief that the most profound luxury is found not in excess, but in essence. For two nights only, that essence has a very delicious address.
